Caddo Lake State Park

Caddo Lake State Park sits on Big Cypress Bayou near Karnack, in Harrison County, about 3 hours east of Dallas. It’s best known for paddling Saw Mill Pond under bald cypress hung with Spanish moss, plus shaded campsites and CCC-built cabins. Low water has closed canoe rentals and the boat ramp since Oct. 21, 2026, so check the park’s alerts before driving out.

On This Page

• Paddling Saw Mill Pond and Big Cypress Bayou
• Boat Tours on Caddo Lake
• Fishing and the Boat Ramp
• Hiking Trails
• Camping
• CCC Cabins
• Alligators, Wildlife and Swimming
• Best Time to Visit
• What Visitors Say
• Getting There
• Know Before You Go
• Nearby Parks
• FAQ
• Sources and Official Links

Paddling Saw Mill Pond and Big Cypress Bayou

Paddling is the main draw at Caddo Lake State Park. Calm Saw Mill Pond suits beginners, and Big Cypress Bayou leads to more than 50 miles of marked paddling trails on Caddo Lake. Low water closed the park’s canoe rentals on Oct. 21, 2026, and TPWD cancelled an Oct. 31 kayak class because Saw Mill Pond was too low, so call the park before bringing a boat.

Canoe Rentals

When rentals are open, the park rents canoes at the headquarters office. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) sets these rules:

• First come, first served; visitors line up before the office opens on busy weekends
• Rentals run 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m., and day canoes are due back by 4:30 p.m. Campers can rent for 24 or 48 hours
• Renters must be 18 or older and show ID. Each canoe holds up to 3 people and 700 pounds; life jackets and paddles are included
• Canoes launch from Saw Mill Pond only. Pay at the office first, then drive to the pond
• TPWD doesn’t post prices. Reviewers in 2024 and 2025 paid $10 for an hour and $20 for 3 hours. Call (903) 679-3351, option 2, to confirm

Paddling Trails

TPWD marks 10 paddling trails on Caddo Lake and Big Cypress Bayou with reflective arrow signs. Two start or end in the park.

• Hell’s Half Acre (8.8 miles round trip): about 3 to 4 hours from the Mill Pond launch down Big Cypress Bayou toward Caddo Lake. Reviewers say it suits paddlers with some experience because of motorboat traffic
• Mill Pond (7.2 miles round trip): starts at Backwater Jack’s RV Park on Longs Camp Road and can end at Mill Pond in the park, 3.6 miles one way
• Other trails: start from Uncertain marinas and the Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area, where entry needs a permit

TPWD also lists Riverbend Outfitters, Johnson’s Ranch Marina and Ole Mossy’s Upriver for canoe and kayak rentals nearby; call ahead, since outfitters change.

Boat Tours on Caddo Lake

Caddo Lake State Park doesn’t run boat tours, but private operators nearby take visitors deeper into the bayous and out onto the open lake. TPWD lists these, with schedules that depend on the weather:

• Shady Glade Marina, Motel and Restaurant in Uncertain: (903) 789-3295
• Johnson’s Ranch Marina: (903) 789-3213; also rents canoes and kayaks
• Jefferson Landing Riverboat: (903) 665-2222
• Ole Mossy’s Upriver: (903) 679-9449; also rents kayaks and canoes

Reviewers often call a tour the highlight of the trip, since it reaches the open lake. They describe 90-minute tours and advise booking ahead.

Fishing and the Boat Ramp

Caddo Lake State Park has two fishing piers and a two-lane boat ramp on Big Cypress Bayou. No fishing license is needed to fish from shore or a pier inside a Texas state park, and headquarters lends fishing tackle.

• Boat ramp: closed for low water. The reservation site posted the closure on Aug. 28, 2026, and the TPWD alert dates it Oct. 21, 2026. When open, the day-use fee covers launching
• Fish: more than 70 species. Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, chain pickerel, white and yellow bass and sunfish lead the catch
• Trophy bass: the lake holds good numbers of bass over 8 pounds, and March is the best month for them
• Chain pickerel: a smaller cousin of the northern pike, best in winter and early spring around submerged plants
• What anglers report: fishing from the bank or pier is fair, and a boat does better. Bait and ice aren’t sold in the park store
• Rules: a fish consumption advisory covers Caddo Lake, and paddlefish are protected. See TPWD’s Caddo Lake fishing page

Hiking Trails

Caddo Lake State Park has short, shaded trails through pine and hardwood forest, about 2 to 3 miles in all. Every trail is hiking only, and most visitors walk them all in an hour or two.

Miles and ratings as TPWD lists them. The four main trails add up to 1.9 miles, while TPWD gives totals of 2.5 miles and “nearly three miles.” The 2026 park map (PDF) also uses newer names such as the Braille Trail and Pine Ridge Trail.

Trail Tips

A few details help on the trails.

• CCC pavilion: the Caddo Forest Trail leads to an open stone-and-log pavilion the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built in the 1930s
• Bugs and plants: TPWD advises insect repellent. Reviewers report thick poison ivy along the trails in spring
• Ranger hikes: guided walks, such as a Fall Foliage Hike on Nov. 14, 2026, appear on the park’s events page

Camping

Caddo Lake State Park has 46 campsites, from tent sites with water only to full hookups, plus 7 screened shelters. The loops sit in shaded pine and hardwood forest, and restrooms with hot showers serve the campgrounds. There are no primitive or hike-in sites.

Campsite Types

Prices are TPWD’s nightly rates, plus the daily entry fee.

• Full hookup (8 sites, $25): water, 50-amp electric and sewer in Woodpecker Hollow (sites 18–25). Paved pull-throughs, no tents. These book first
• Water and electric (18 sites, $20): 30-amp electric in Armadillo Run (sites 26–36) and Squirrel Haven (37–45). Back-in pads with a tent pad
• Water only (20 sites, $10): the Mill Pond loop, the only one by the water. Tents only, with no RVs, trailers, pop-ups or generators. Closed Dec. 1 to about March 1
• Screened shelters (7, $25): 12-by-16-foot screened rooms with electric outlets and lights, plus water and a grill outside, in Squirrel Haven. Reviewers say they lock only from inside
• Group Recreation Hall ($200 a day): the CCC-built hall holds up to 100 people; book by phone at (512) 389-8920

Not every site books online (39 campsites and 6 shelters in late October 2026), so call the park about accessible sites.

Picking a Site

Reviewers agree on a few points.

• Quietest: Mill Pond and Squirrel Haven. Highway and truck noise reaches Armadillo Run, especially site 30
• Big rigs: the hill down to the campsites is steep, and the one-way exit road is gentler. The Mill Pond bridge has a 17,500-pound axle limit, with parking before it
• Power: some electric posts sit far from the pad, so bring an extension cord
• Restrooms: clean, with good hot water, but few, so some sites have a long walk

Reservations and Camp Rules

Book early for spring and fall weekends.

• Campsites, shelters and cabins open for booking 5 months ahead; the group hall 12 months ahead
• Check-in is 2 p.m. and check-out is noon
• Up to 8 people and 2 vehicles per site; quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Arriving after 4:45 p.m.: call the park that day. A list by the office door shows each late arrival’s site, and late arrivals register by 10 a.m. the next morning
• A burn ban has been in force since Aug. 13, 2026: no wood or charcoal fires, propane stoves only
• Raccoons raid food, so lock it in a vehicle

Other Campgrounds Near Caddo Lake

When the park is full, private RV parks and marinas along the bayou and in Uncertain take campers, including Backwater Jack’s RV Park and Johnson’s Ranch Marina (cabins). The Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area allows primitive camping with a TPWD permit, with no water or restrooms.

CCC Cabins

Caddo Lake State Park rents 10 cabins. Nine are log cabins the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built in the 1930s from old Army barracks. All have air conditioning and heat, and all but cabin 10 have a private bathroom.

• Six-person (3 cabins, $115): 800 square feet, two queen bedrooms, a gas fireplace and a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave and stovetop (no oven). Bring cots or air mattresses for guests 5 and 6
• Four-person (4 cabins, $95): 600 square feet with a gas fireplace and kitchenette. Cabins 3 and 7 are accessible
• Two-person (2 cabins, $75): 300 square feet, one queen bed, a microwave and coffee pot, and no fridge or stove
• Cabin 10 ($40): bunk beds with A/C and heat, but no bathroom or kitchen; restrooms are nearby

Cabin Rules

Cabin rules, from the TPWD lodging page:

• Check-in is 3 p.m. and check-out is 11 a.m. There are no Sunday check-ins
• Weekend stays need both Friday and Saturday nights
• Bring pillows, sheets, towels, soap and kitchenware
• No pets in or around the cabins. No campfires in the cabin area; the grills take charcoal only
• Cabins close on set maintenance dates and every Christmas Day

Reviewers like the porches, strong A/C and fireplaces, and say cabins book up fast in peak seasons. Complaints are minor: thin mattresses, a small fridge and the occasional repair.

Alligators, Wildlife and Swimming

Alligators live at Caddo Lake State Park, and they are most active at dusk. The park has no swimming area, and TPWD says swimming in the swamp isn’t recommended.

• Alligator rules: stay at least 30 feet away. Feeding one is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine up to $500. Keep fish in a bucket, not on a stringer. More in TPWD’s alligator safety tips
• What visitors see: some spot alligators under the fishing pier or from a canoe; many never see one
• Snakes: cottonmouths (water moccasins) and copperheads both turn up, from canoes and near trails
• Birds: more than 200 species around Caddo Lake, per TPWD, including wood ducks, anhingas, barred owls, pileated woodpeckers, spring prothonotary warblers and late-summer wood storks
• Other wildlife: deer, gray foxes, raccoons, turtles and, in spring and summer, fireflies
• Bugs: mosquitoes, biting flies and humidity peak in summer
• Protected wetland: Caddo Lake was named a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1993

Best Time to Visit

Fall is the favorite season at Caddo Lake State Park, when the bald cypress turn rust-orange. Spring is the other good window, before summer heat and bugs.

• Spring (March to May): mild weather, fresh green cypress and returning warblers. March is the top month for trophy bass
• Summer (June to August): July highs average 88°F, with humidity, mosquitoes and weekend motorboat traffic on the bayou. Paddle early
• Fall (October to November): cypress color and fewer bugs. Reviewers saw color start in late October and fade by mid-November, and fall 2025 was dull. Cabins and full hookups book first
• Winter (December to February): bare cypress, fog and Spanish moss, and a quiet park. January lows average 48°F. Mill Pond tent sites close Dec. 1 to about March 1, and duck hunters work the lake

What Visitors Say

Caddo Lake State Park averages 4.8 stars across 653 Google reviews from October 2024 to October 2026, and 4.7 stars across about 2,490 reviews overall. Visitors come for the cypress and Spanish moss, and the complaints center on size, noise and water levels.

• Scenery: the top theme by far. Many say it feels more like Louisiana than Texas, and photographers aim for sunrise on Saw Mill Pond
• Small park: trails and sights take a few hours. Without a boat or tour, some visitors run out of things to do
• Not on the open lake: the park sits on Big Cypress Bayou about 4 miles upstream of Caddo Lake. Reaching the main lake takes a paddle or a short drive to Uncertain
• Crowds: quiet on weekdays and in winter; weekends fill parking and canoes
• Staff: office staff and ranger programs get frequent praise. A few reviewers report strict ticketing over life jackets and after-hours check-in
• Water levels: high water closed areas in May 2025, and a reviewer found rentals closed in April 2025
• Cell signal: spotty, with weak Wi-Fi

Getting There

Caddo Lake State Park is 15 miles northeast of Marshall. From Marshall, take TX 43 north about 15 miles to FM 2198, turn right for half a mile, then turn left on Park Road 2 to headquarters. From Dallas, take I-20 east to Marshall first.

Drive times to park headquarters:

• Dallas: about 3 hours (165 miles)
• Houston: about 4.5 hours
• Austin: about 5 hours 50 minutes
• San Antonio: about 7 hours 15 minutes
• Shreveport, Louisiana: about 50 minutes
• Longview: about 55 minutes

A few things to know before driving out:

• No entrance gate: pay the entry fee inside headquarters during office hours
• Supplies: the park store sells souvenirs but not ice or bait, according to reviewers, so stock up in Marshall
• Nearby towns: Karnack is about 3 miles away; Uncertain, with the marinas, about 5

Know Before You Go

These fees, rules and tips matter most at Caddo Lake State Park.

• Fees and passes: $4 a day for adults 13 and older; children 12 and under get in free. The entry fee applies on top of camping and cabin fees. The Texas State Parks Pass covers entry. Confirm current fees on the TPWD fees page
• Booking: TPWD says the park often fills and recommends reserving camping and day passes. Day passes open 1 month ahead; leftovers sell at the park
• Hours: headquarters is open 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily. Day visitors may stay until 10 p.m.
• Low water: canoe rentals and the boat ramp have been closed since Oct. 21, 2026. Caddo Lake was 43.6% full on Oct. 30, 2026, according to Water Data for Texas
• Fires: burn ban since Aug. 13, 2026, with propane stoves only. Harrison County is under an emerald ash borer quarantine, so buy firewood locally rather than bringing it from home
• Boats: clean, drain and dry boats and gear to stop giant salvinia and other invasive plants
• Pets: on a leash no longer than 6 feet, kept out of cabins and park buildings and away from the water’s edge
• Alcohol: no public drinking
• Facilities: park store, playground, picnic areas and exhibits at headquarters. Day-use areas have no accessible restrooms
• What to bring: strong bug spray, a fan in summer, linens for cabins and an offline map

Nearby Parks

Two other TrekTexas guides are within about an hour and a half of Caddo Lake State Park.

• Atlanta State Park: about 43 miles north on Wright Patman Lake, with a designated swimming area, camping and 4.8 miles of trails
• Tyler State Park: about 76 miles west, with a 64-acre spring-fed lake and canoe, kayak and paddleboat rentals
• TPWD also lists Daingerfield and Martin Creek Lake state parks as nearby
• More parks within reach of Dallas: Parks Near Dallas

FAQ

Is Caddo Lake State Park on Caddo Lake?

Not quite. The park sits on Big Cypress Bayou about 4 miles upstream of the open lake, and the bayou runs into it.

Is Caddo Lake a natural lake?

It began as one. TPWD calls it the largest naturally formed lake in Texas, created when the Great Raft logjam on the Red River backed up water around 1800. A dam has held it since 1914, replaced in 1971.

How big and deep is Caddo Lake?

About 26,800 acres on the Texas-Louisiana line. It averages 8 to 10 feet deep and is 20 feet at its deepest.

Can visitors rent a kayak at the park?

No. The park rents canoes only, and rentals have been closed for low water since Oct. 21, 2026. Ranger kayak classes use park kayaks, and outfitters near Uncertain rent kayaks.

Sources and Official Links

Facts in this guide were last checked in October 2026 against these sources.

• Caddo Lake State Park (TPWD)
• Entrance fees (TPWD)
• Cabins (TPWD)
• Trails and park map (PDF) (TPWD)
• Park alerts (TPWD)
• Canoe rentals and Caddo Lake paddling trails (TPWD)
• Fishing Caddo Lake (TPWD)
• Texas State Parks reservations
• Caddo Lake water level (Water Data for Texas)

Featured photo: Alexander Hatley, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)